SolarEdge EV Charging Now Compatible With Google Assistant

SolarEdge just announced its EV charging solar inverter can now be controlled with Google Assistant. (Reportedly GA will be on a billion devices very soon.) The smart energy technology company is one of the first to connect EV charging to Google Assistant. Lior Handelsman, SolarEdge’s Founder and VP of Marketing and Product Strategy, answered some questions about the integration for CleanTechnica.

Where did the idea come from to integrate Google Assistant with the EV charger?

SolarEdge envisions that the next step of smart homes is integrating smart energy. While smart homes offer convenience, smart energy homes go a step further and offer consumers real control over their energy production and consumption. People can switch from being passive consumers of energy, to active energy producers and managers. This gives people more control of their energy bills.

What are the advantages when using Google Assistant with the EV charger?

The main advantage is convenience. It puts the power of energy not only in the palm of consumer’s hands, but also with simple voice commands. As we add more functionality, this will provide additional convenience and control.

Will Solar Edge expand the functionality when using Google Assistant and the EV charger?

Yes. Currently the Google Assistant can be used to start and stop EV charging. SolarEdge plans to add functionality to the Google Assistant commands, including inquiring about charging status, checking average miles charged in the charging session, and pre-schedule charging.

Can Google Assistant interface with the EV charger using any smart phone or tablet?

Yes.

Does the Google Assistant functionality come with the EV charger for free, or is there a cost?

There is no additional cost for the functionality. However, the Google Assistant hardware is not part of SolarEdge’s EV charging inverter system cost.

How does the Solar Edge EV charger charge six times faster than a Level 1 EV charger?

The six times faster charging is enabled by SolarEdge’s innovative solar boost mode that utilizes grid and PV charging simultaneously. The combination of grid and PV energy enables the faster charging.

Is the Solar Edge EV charger the only home charger that currently works with Google Assistant?

Google is able to provide information about other devices that work with the Google Assistant.

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